MELAMPIIAES LUGUBRIS. 63 



Surfaces and linings of the body cavity deep black. 



If not identical, the present specimens represent a species so closely 

 allied to Mdamphacs mkolcpls Glint, that the description of the latter is 

 insufficient for purpose of distinction. If identical, the range of M. inizo- 

 lepis is much extended. It has been taken south of New Guinea off the 

 Arrou Islands, by the "Challenger," in 800 fathoms, and in the Bay of Ben- 

 gal, by the "Investigator," in 1310 fathoms, and from the following locali- 

 ties by the " Albatross." 



station. Latitude. Longitude. Depth. Temperature. Bottom. 



3388 7°6'N. 79° 48' W. 1168 fathoms 36.2° F. Gn. glob. oz. 



33.36 7° 9' 30" N. 81° 8' 31)" W. 546 " 40.1° F. Sft. bl. m. 



3358 6° 30' N. 81° 44' W. 555 « 40.2° F. Gn. s. 



3398 1° 7' N. 80° 21' \V. 1573 " 36° F. Gn. oz. 



Melamphaes lugubris. 



aes lugubris Gilbert, 1890, P. U. S. Mns., XHI., .59. 



Br. r. 8; D. Ill, 15-16 ; A. I, 7-8; V. I, 7; P. 14; LI. 27. 



The form of this fish is moderately stout and compressed ; the outlines 

 are similar to those of Melanipliucs nigrofulvus, Plate D, fig. 2, and the 

 agreement in the formute is close except in case of that for the dorsal 

 fin, in which the number of rays is much larger for the present species. 

 Body cavity more than half of the total length. Head large, two fifths 

 of the length without the caudal ; its depth is two thirds and its width 

 less than one half of its length ; the upper and the lower profiles are 

 convex; there are moderate ridges at the sides of the parietal region 

 and in the suborbital, the opercular, and the suljmandibular regions. 

 The excavations in the bones of the skull for the canals and disks of the 

 lateral system are wide and deep ; apparently they are continued across 

 the aural region of the crown. The short median interorbital ridge is 

 of moderate height ; the iiiternarial prominence is low. There are one 

 or two small spines at each side of the occiput. Snout short, one and 

 one half times the length of the eye, ending in a point below the 

 symphysis of the lower jaws. Mouth wide, oblique ; maxillary more than 

 half as long as the head, reaching to a vertical from the hind border of the 

 orbit. Teeth small, subequal, in two or more rows on each jaw. Eye 

 medium, lateral, one sixth of the length of the head, two thirds of that of 

 the snout, less than half of the interorbital width. A couple of short spines 



